When you swallow a lump in your throat. Lump in throat - what it can be, causes, treatment. Which doctor to contact. Lump in throat due to nervous overload
He turns to Laura, if his stomach hurts - to a gastroenterologist, if his heart is worried - to a cardiologist. Our psychology is such that we are more afraid of what we cannot understand. Often, patients are concerned about the symptom of a lump in the throat. The question immediately arises of what this is connected with. Which specialist to contact? Let's try to figure out what the symptom of a lump in the throat means, a manifestation of what diseases and conditions it can be.
Finding a reason
Before you go to some specialist, you need to try to analyze your feelings on your own. It is important to assess what causes the appearance of a lump, when this condition occurs, what additional unpleasant sensations it accompanies. Then it will be easier for a specialist to build an examination algorithm and find the cause.
Eliminate the worst
We all become very suspicious when it comes to our health. Naturally, the feeling of a lump in the throat leads us to think about some kind of neoplasm. Here, a standard examination by an otolaryngologist will help us. The doctor will examine the throat, possibly with an endoscope, and be able to determine if there are any growths in the throat. Most likely, the fear of throat cancer will not be confirmed, because when the tumor reaches such a size as to create a feeling of coma, the general condition of the patient is already significantly disturbed.
Otolaryngologist's consultation
There may be various diseases of the throat. Enlargement of the tonsils with purulent plugs in the throat can cause a feeling of coma. A number of bacteria in the nasopharynx can also cause a similar sensation, although the inflammatory process may not be noticeable on external examination. In this case, the doctor will most likely suggest taking a throat swab to determine pathogenic organisms and their sensitivity to drugs.
Endocrinologist consultation.
If the examination by an otolaryngologist did not help to identify the cause of this unpleasant symptom, you will have to continue the search.
If a person has an inflamed thyroid gland, a lump in the throat can also bother. Iodine deficiency, which affects most of the population of our country, excluding coastal areas, leads to disruption of the main function of the thyroid gland. The process of hormone production is disrupted, the gland increases in size. True, it is worth noting that the enlargement of the gland must be quite significant to cause a feeling of coma. The gland may also not be too enlarged, but compacted. This can also lead to similar feelings. Your endocrinologist will most likely suggest an ultrasound scan and send you for a blood test to determine your thyroid hormone levels.
With the correct diagnosis and proper treatment, an unpleasant symptom will disappear quite quickly. The main thing that patients should be warned against is the independent use of iodine preparations. Such self-medication can cause irreparable harm to health. The medicine should be prescribed only by a specialist.
Visit to a gastroenterologist.
If the feeling of a lump in the throat is associated with food intake, for example, after eating the lump in the throat increases or decreases, perhaps the root of the problem is in the disease of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the feeling of a coma can be combined with heartburn, discomfort in the stomach, a feeling of acid in the mouth.
All diseases from nerves?
If an examination by an ENT, endocrinologist and gastroenterologist did not reveal the cause, you need to go to an appointment with a neurologist. We all know that in moments of strong emotions, a breath-taking sensation can appear. In medicine, there is even the concept of a hysterical lump. The symptom of a lump in the throat can cause a strong emotional shock or, conversely, chronic stress. The doctor will be able to conduct an examination and, very likely, taking harmless sedatives will remove the problem.
If the symptom of a lump in the throat really bothers you for a long time, it is worth visiting a specialist. Self-medication can lead to the fact that a minor ailment turns into a serious problem. Therefore, it is important to take care of your health in time.
A lump in the throat is a common complaint that people come to see a doctor with. The causes of the symptom are many, it can be the result of both various infectious diseases and psychological deviations. Without proper diagnosis and establishing the causes of the disease, it is impossible to prescribe adequate treatment. In this case, you should definitely seek help from specialists who will help eliminate discomfort.
If a patient goes to the doctor with a complaint of a lump in the throat, then he often has the following symptoms:
- feeling of tightness in the throat;
- difficulty swallowing saliva;
- feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the throat;
- difficulty in swallowing solid and large foods;
- excessive accumulation of mucus;
- feeling of stirring in the throat.
Reasons for these symptoms:
- fatigue, stressful conditions;
- viral or bacterial infections affecting the larynx;
- thyroid problems;
- pathology of the cervical vertebrae;
- disturbances in the work of the stomach;
- hernia;
- overweight;
- consequences of taking medications;
- tumors.
So quite often it is the transferred stress that causes a feeling of constriction in the throat. In this case, the symptom of the presence of a coma may occur periodically, or be permanent.
Stressful situations provoke a sharp contraction of the muscles in the throat or their overstrain, which causes unpleasant and even dangerous sensations.
Depression, nervousness, worries, all this can provoke a sudden muscle contraction and a feeling of tightness in the throat.
Viral and bacterial infections of the ENT organs, endocrine pathologies, diseases of the spine, can also provoke a lump in the throat, the symptoms of which vary significantly depending on the type of disease.
If the correct diagnosis was not made in time and adequate treatment was not started, especially in cases where the disease is caused by infections of the nasopharynx, complications may develop. A lump in the throat becomes the result of various diseases, for example, pharyngitis or purulent tonsillitis, the improper treatment of which often leads to more serious pathologies. For example, the most dangerous complication is the accumulation of pus in the epiglottis. This disease develops rapidly and is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process in the area of the pharynx, where swelling can easily lead to suffocation.
The feeling of a lump in the throat can also develop as a result of a tumor localized in the larynx.
In the process of its growth, the tumor can move, taking up space in the upper part of the larynx, which causes an unpleasant symptom. If the correct treatment was not started in the early stages of the disease, then in the later stages the feeling of tightness in the throat is replaced by a feeling of lack of oxygen.
Features of the diagnosis of the disease
If there is a feeling of a lump in the throat, you should immediately seek advice from your therapist. After the examination, the doctor will decide on further treatment, and may advise you to undergo an additional examination or consult with another specialist. Most often, with such a symptom, you may need to consult an otolaryngologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon.
For the most accurate determination of the cause of the feeling of tightness in the throat, additional diagnostic procedures may be prescribed:
- clinical blood and urine tests;
- a complete examination of the thyroid gland, including blood donation for hormones and ultrasound;
- biochemical analysis;
- assess the condition of the lymph nodes in the neck;
- computed and magnetic resonance imaging;
- complete examination of the oral cavity and pharynx.
Remember, the sooner a correct diagnosis is made, the more effective the prescribed therapy will be.
Treatment
If there is a tightness and a feeling of a lump in the throat, it is necessary to immediately begin therapy. However, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the most unpleasant symptom as much as at the causes of its occurrence.
If, with the help of diagnostic procedures, the doctor was able to accurately diagnose, then the treatment will be prescribed in accordance with the disease.
- Pathologies of the spine in the neck can cause a constant sensation of a foreign object.
If the symptom is accompanied by acute sore throat, numbness and decreased sensitivity of the upper limbs, it is likely that it is caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the spine. In this case, both medical treatment and surgical intervention are used.
In this situation, special ointments, creams, manual therapy are often used. Treatment with a laser, acupuncture, paraffin treatment also gives a positive result. But often the disease requires an integrated approach, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, specially designed exercises and lifestyle changes.
Important! Such therapy for osteochondrosis is contraindicated during pregnancy and in the acute stage of the disease.
An effective treatment for tightness in the throat caused by pathologies of the spine can be based on massage. This method can significantly reduce pain and speed up recovery.
- If there is inflammation in the throat caused by bacteria or viruses, the patient will be prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy or treatment with antiviral drugs.
Exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis can also cause a feeling of tightness and the presence of a foreign object. Signs of this disease are sore throat, subfebrile temperature that persists for a long time, white plaque on the tonsils. It is the excess of purulent plaque on the tonsils that creates a feeling of constriction in the throat.
Regular rinsing, washing the tonsils, inhalations, warm compresses in combination with the use of antibiotics can also be used as procedures that reduce the severity of an unpleasant symptom and speed up the healing process. However, it is very difficult to achieve a complete restoration of the work of the tonsils, therefore, in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, the primary task is to restore general immunity.
- If the cause of the tightness in the throat is a violation of the thyroid gland, then therapy will be carried out with the help of iodine-containing drugs with hypofunction of the gland, or with the help of hormonal agents with the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Diseases of the stomach also often become the causes of constriction in the pharynx. In this case, the patient often complains of belching and a lump in the throat. Only after a complete diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe an effective treatment.
- In situations where psycho-emotional factors have become the cause of a coma in the throat, treatment will involve the use of sedative drugs. In stressful conditions, the patient is also recommended to rest and sleep well.
Features of treatment during pregnancy
If a woman is pregnant, then most often the main cause of tightness in the throat is anxiety. The stress present in early pregnancy is mainly associated with the fear of something new. Therefore, in order to eliminate the sensation of a lump in the throat, it is necessary to calm the woman, remove the stimuli that cause psycho-emotional overload. In the event that an unpleasant symptom does not go away even at rest, you should immediately consult a doctor. If necessary, after the examination, the doctor can refer the woman for a consultation with a neurologist or otolaryngologist.
If, nevertheless, the cause of tightness in the throat was depression or stress, then the doctor will probably advise taking special relaxing remedies based on valerian root, which are not contraindicated during pregnancy.
There are a large number of diagnostic methods that allow you to understand the cause of tightness in the throat and prescribe the correct treatment, which in most cases will give a positive result. However, it is better to prevent the disease than to seek ways to treat it. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to methods for preventing the occurrence of a symptom of a coma in the throat. Preventive measures include:
- immediate treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx;
- maintaining an active lifestyle, maintaining sleep and wakefulness, quitting smoking and alcohol abuse, a sufficient number of walks in the fresh air;
- sufficient humidity in the room to avoid drying out in the throat;
- timely preventive examination by an endocrinologist, treatment of thyroid diseases;
- proper treatment of chronic tonsillitis and regular washing of the tonsils;
- treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- prevention and treatment of diseases of the cervical spine;
- moisturizing the nasal cavity with saline;
- exclusion of situations that cause stress;
- timely treatment at the onset of the first symptoms.
For the prevention of a coma in the throat in pregnant women after suffering nervous conditions, a sound sleep will help. Also, pregnant women will benefit from walks in the fresh air.
A strange sensation, as if something is in the throat, is a fairly common symptom of many diseases. A concomitant characteristic feature is the absence of pain.
The condition appears unexpectedly and may also disappear without a trace. However, things are not always so good.
A banal situation, when mild discomfort develops into a serious pathology, may require the adoption of drastic measures to eliminate the disease, which the patient was not even aware of.
The identification of factors that provoke a negative feeling that something in the throat seems to interfere with swallowing, but it does not hurt, becomes a priority. It's almost impossible to deal with it on your own. A visit to the doctor is the only right decision. This will prevent the development of serious complications, sometimes developing into the stage of irreversible consequences.
Briefly about the problem
In order to determine the factors that provoke negative symptoms, it is necessary to visit a therapist or an otolaryngologist.
The feeling that something is interfering in the throat cannot be classified as an independent disease. This is a common symptom of the development of many pathological processes.
Identification of the cause of discomfort with concomitant manifestations - high fever, redness or swelling of the palatine tonsils is not difficult. It's most likely tonsillitis. However, the presence of a coma in the throat without the presence of an inflammatory process in it is more difficult to diagnose.
To this end, after listening to the patient's complaints and examining his throat with an endoscope or laryngoscope, the doctor recommends a series of laboratory and instrumental tests. Among them:
- general blood analysis;
- radiography of the nasopharynx;
- CT or MRI;
- laryngoscopy.
In some cases, it becomes necessary to consult with such specialists as an endocrinologist, a neuropathologist, a gastroenterologist, and in rare situations, a psychiatrist and even an oncologist.
What do they usually complain about?
The feeling of the presence of something else in the throat is accompanied by a complex of various symptoms.
Their presence is explained by the fact that the negative manifestation is the result of many pathological processes. It:
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- infringement of nerve fibers in the cervical region;
- vasospasm;
- respiratory dysfunction;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland.
The perception of manifestations in the throat that occur against the background of these conditions is very diverse.
Patients, describing their feelings, note the following manifestations:
- due to the presence of a lump in the throat, you want to cough;
- something stuck to the walls of the throat and tickles unpleasantly;
- itching and perspiration are constantly felt, causing coughing;
- sometimes difficulties with swallowing are accompanied by attacks of suffocation;
- , due to the impression that someone was stuck in the throat;
- Difficulty inhaling or exhaling
- it is impossible to swallow solid food, and sometimes even liquid.
The presence of such signs for 6-7 days with increasing discomfort should be taken as an indication for a detailed examination in order to identify the cause of negative manifestations.
A detailed description of discomfort in the throat greatly facilitates the diagnosis, so it is necessary to frankly discuss the smallest details with the doctor. Any little thing is a hint for the doctor, indicating the direction where it is necessary to look for the root cause of the pathological condition.
Even the time when the symptoms occur and the duration of the sensations matter.
The described symptoms indicate the likelihood of developing many diseases, so it should not be ignored.
What can interfere with the throat when swallowing
The factors provoking the apparent presence of a lump in the throat on the left side and simultaneous squeezing of the entire throat are so numerous that no therapist will undertake to ascertain the cause of the problem without carrying out the diagnostic measures described above.
Respiratory pathologies come to the fore. This is inflammation of the tonsils, a condition after a sore throat, the consequences of pharyngitis, laryngitis and diphtheria. However, all these pathologies are accompanied by fever and the appearance of pain. The severity of symptoms provides the possibility of rapid differentiation of these diseases. An adequate course of treatment helps to eliminate the signs of the disease through the use of antibiotics, rinsing with decoctions and inhalations.
When and as if something interferes with swallowing without the manifestation of pain, the doctor looks for the root cause in another.
Edema
Puffiness of the throat is far from the only reason for feeling as if there is a foreign object in it that interferes, does not allow saliva to be swallowed. A similar condition occurs due to a burn, injury or infection. The appearance of edema due to the use of drugs that cause an allergic reaction is not excluded.
There is no pain syndrome with allergies, but the feeling of having a foreign object that prevents swallowing saliva and causes itching, squeezing and snot increases if measures are not taken to relieve allergic manifestations.
It is important to know that nasopharyngeal edema is a serious symptom that requires immediate identification of the main cause of its development and urgent elimination of swelling. Delay in such a situation can lead to irreversible consequences that threaten the life of the patient.
Thyroid diseases
The impression that something is in the throat when swallowing very often occurs against the background of thyroid dysfunction. Similar changes that provoke compression of the walls of the throat are detected using ultrasound.
The trigger mechanism for the development of disorders of the normal state of the thyroid gland is a lack of iodine in the body or excessive production of thyroid hormones by the body.
Replenishment of iodine deficiency is achieved by taking special drugs. This will prevent further progression of the pathology, and negative sensations will disappear.
Neoplasms
The formation of tumor formations of various etiologies is also accompanied by a feeling of squeezing in the throat. These may be benign or malignant.
Their occurrence is provoked by injuries, exposure to toxic substances, prolonged stay in a dusty or gassed room. The possibility of negative effects of nicotine or activities associated with constant tension of the vocal cords cannot be ruled out.
The formation of neoplasms in the throat can be indicated by such accompanying signs as hoarseness and hoarseness of the voice, the presence of blood flakes in the sputum, and difficulty breathing.
Ignoring the situation is fraught with serious complications. Whereas timely examination and an adequate course of therapy can eliminate the root causes of a negative pathological condition.
Panic and stress
Feeling that it is tickling in the throat and as if something is preventing them from swallowing saliva, some patients delay the visit to the doctor. They indulge in gloomy thoughts about the likelihood of oncological formations. Such an attitude can actually provoke serious psychological illnesses.
Stress, overwork, troubles in family life often lead to psychological breakdowns, which are also accompanied by squeezing the throat, reminiscent of the appearance of a foreign object in it that disrupts the swallowing function.
Everyday problems, fear greatly increase the feeling of a lump in the throat, which contributes to the development of symptoms into panic. The condition worsens, and additional symptoms appear - rapid pulse, dizziness, difficulty breathing, leading to suffocation.
Strong excitement is accompanied by muscle spasm, which fetters normal breathing. This condition disappears after 30-40 minutes. However, if the nervous situation is maintained, it can last much longer.
Osteochondrosis
A disease of the spine that affects the cervical region often becomes a factor in which there is a likelihood of negative symptoms in the throat.
Displacement of the intervertebral discs and damage to nearby tissues causes a feeling of pressure in the larynx and creates the effect of a lump in the throat.
Problems in the digestive system
Pathological processes, which are the result of a violation of the gastrointestinal tract, often occur with the manifestation of the following symptoms:
- sour belching after eating;
- dull pain in the epigastrium;
- heartburn and nausea;
- tickling and itching in the throat.
These manifestations are observed due to the throwing of the contents of the stomach back into the esophagus.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
Any deviations in the activity of the heart muscle can manifest as discomfort in the throat. It is manifested by a feeling of constriction, which makes it difficult to breathe air.
A similar condition is characteristic of functional disorders caused by extrasystole and cardioneurosis. As a symptom characteristic of heart disease, there are pain manifestations in the chest.
Other factors
The feeling of squeezing and narrowing in the throat worries in the following situations and conditions:
- the patient is prone to allergic manifestations to food, medications, household dust and other irritants;
- there are bruises, neck injuries;
- the patient is obese;
- the body is affected by helminths that can settle not only in the digestive organs.
Of particular danger to life is the ingress of a foreign body into the respiratory system. It not only interferes with swallowing, but can also lead to death.
How to eliminate discomfort
The primary task is not to eliminate the symptoms, but to treat the pathology that is the root cause of unpleasant manifestations.
Based on the results obtained during the diagnostic examination described above, the doctor will choose the correct tactics of the treatment course, the result of which will be the elimination of the problem in the throat.
Swelling of the larynx
The danger of the condition lies in the likelihood of blocking the breath, therefore, it requires urgent medical attention.
The removal of swelling of the throat caused by an allergy to various irritants is facilitated by taking antihistamines. Patients prone to allergic reactions should be tested for active allergens, after which the doctor will select the right medicine.
Stress and panic attacks
By eliminating the cause of stress, you can easily get rid of severe symptoms. However, not all patients are able to cope with this problem on their own.
Seeing a psychotherapist will help in this situation. In addition, sedative drops of plant origin are prescribed:
- motherwort;
- hawthorn;
- valerian.
A good sedative effect is achieved with the use of Corvalol, Barboval, Valocardin. A more effective remedy is Adaptol.
To relieve anxiety and tachycardia attacks caused by panic attacks, a neurologist will advise you to perform breathing exercises and explain how they should be performed.
Pathology of the thyroid gland
To normalize the state of the organ, the therapeutic tactic consists in replenishing the iodine deficiency and regulating the production of hormones.
For this purpose, drugs containing iodine are used. It:
- Iodomarin;
- Iodine balance;
- Potassium iodite;
- Endocrinol;
- Endorm.
The course of treatment is quite long, it is 2-3 months.
Other deviations in the functioning of the thyroid gland suggest the use of hormonal agents.
Osteochondrosis
Irreversible changes in the cartilaginous tissue and intervertebral discs of the cervical spine are difficult to correct. Treatment involves:
- Of the conservative methods - the use of chondroprotectors. Chondroxide, Teraflex, Structum are considered the most effective. Comprehensive treatment involves drugs that improve blood flow. Well proven Trental.
- Regular exercise therapy and physiotherapy.
- A significant role is given to dietary nutrition, which excludes fatty, fried, salty and spicy foods.
Strict adherence to the doctor's prescriptions in most cases gives good results in the correction of the state of cervical osteochondrosis, which helps to eliminate the feeling of squeezing in the throat.
The absence of positive dynamics becomes an indication for the use of a surgical method.
Injuries
To eliminate the consequences of an injury due to a foreign body entering the throat, after removing it, the injured area is treated with antiseptic agents. This prevents the possibility of inflammation of the mucous membrane.
In addition, pharmaceutical gargles - Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt, Chlorhexidine - help to normalize the condition of the mucous membrane.
It is good to relieve discomfort after an injury by rinsing, cooked at home. These are decoctions of chamomile, calendula or St. John's wort.
Neoplasms
What to do if the cause of blockage in the throat is the formation of a tumor? Seek immediate medical attention.
Carrying out the necessary diagnostic measures will reveal the etiology of neoplasms. If they are not malignant, treatment may be limited to a course of therapy.
Otherwise, treatment is carried out in oncology centers.
Timely seeking medical help is the key to a positive prognosis in the treatment of tumors of various etiologies.
Pathologies of the digestive tract
To get rid of a coma in the throat caused by disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to undergo a course of therapy under the supervision of a gastroenterologist. It is selected taking into account the characteristics of the clinical picture of each individual patient.
The basis of therapy is the use of:
- antibacterial drugs - Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin;
- painkillers - No-shpy, Almagel;
- drugs that neutralize high acidity - Gevixon, Maalox.
- blockers of the production of excess hydrochloric acid - Omeprazole, Lansoprazole.
An important role in eliminating problems with the digestive tract is given to diet.
Whatever the cause of the negative symptoms, it must be eliminated. Attempts to cure the pathological condition on their own lead to its aggravation. Therefore, it is recommended to examine and eradicate the disease that is the root cause of an unpleasant and in most cases a serious symptom.
Having become acquainted with the factors that provoke problems in the throat and methods for their elimination, one should not self-medicate without the prescriptions of qualified specialists. The material of the article is not a guide to action, it is provided for informational purposes only.
This is the name given to the unpleasant feeling that something is stuck in the throat. At the same time, you are sure that you did not swallow anything superfluous and there are no foreign objects in your esophagus.
In most cases, the nasty lump is harmless. If you have it for the first time or appears no more than once every few months, you can not worry. Most likely, nothing bad is happening to you.
But sometimes a lump in the throat is one of the first symptoms of a serious illness.
Where does the lump in the throat come from
The causes of a coma in the throat are very different. Dozens of vital vessels and muscles, the esophagus, and the thyroid gland are concentrated in the neck area. There are also cervical vertebrae, which sometimes pinch the nerve endings. And the trachea, into which the larynx passes, is a frequent victim of colds. Failure of any of these elements - and here it is, a lump.
In general, there is no unequivocal diagnosis that would correlate with a lump in the throat. However, reasons can be listed What Causes a Lump in Your Throat?, which often interfere with free breathing and swallowing.
1. Acute stress
Nervous tension can cause spasm of blood vessels in the throat. Subjectively, this is perceived as a pressing, bursting feeling.
Up to 96% of all patients complaining about whom say Globus pharyngeus: A review of its etiology, diagnosis and treatment that discomfort intensifies during periods of strong experiences. So you just need to calm down.
2. Muscle spasm
When we are not talking or eating, the muscles of the pharynx and larynx relax. But it happens that they relax incorrectly, freezing in a not quite natural position.
Such a lump disappears if you speak or swallow intensively several times.
3. Acid reflux
This is the name of the situation when the contents of the stomach along with the acid rises through the esophagus. The most famous symptom of this disorder is familiar to many.
But not by her alone ... Spilled stomach acid burns the esophagus. As a result, muscle spasm or tissue swelling may occur. In the throat, in addition to heartburn, a lump is born.
4. Post-nasal syndrome
This complex formulation describes a rather simple thing. You have, there are a lot of them, but for some reason you do not get rid of them. For example, you have a habit of drawing mucus inward rather than blowing your nose. Snot accumulates in the back of the throat and sometimes falls in one lump. So there is an unpleasant bursting sensation.
5. ENT diseases
Pharyngitis and cause the development of painful inflammation in the pharynx. This is how edema appears, and in some cases even an abscess, which are perceived as a lump in the throat.
By the way, this is extremely dangerous: such a lump, increasing in size, can block the airways.
6. Displacement of the vertebrae in the cervical region
Cervical osteochondrosis or displacement caused by trauma affects the nerve endings in the neck. This often leads to spasm of muscles and blood vessels.
7. Thyroid diseases
Sometimes disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland are accompanied by its increase or the formation of large nodes in it. The grown (sometimes even slightly) organ presses Characteristics of thyroid nodules causing globus symptoms. on the esophagus and trachea, causing discomfort.
8. Tumors
A non-passing lump manifests itself as benign neoplasms of the oropharynx, trachea, esophagus, as well as dangerous diseases like cancer Throat cancer throat or Merkel cell carcinoma.
What to do if you have a lump in your throat
Given the variety of reasons, the answer is in a wide range: from "Nothing, it will pass by itself" to "Run to the doctor before it's too late!"
To roughly understand which of these poles you are closer to, mark the statements with which you agree.
- An unpleasant sensation does not go away if you breathe in or swallow vigorously several times.
- You feel a lump in your throat regularly.
- It is accompanied by stomach pain and/or heartburn.
- You .
- You have a fever.
- The lump in your throat makes it hard to breathe.
- You often have headaches, sometimes the pressure rises sharply, there is discomfort in the neck and back.
- A lump in the throat appeared against the background of muscle weakness and unreasonable weight loss.
- You cannot swallow normally.
Statements that you would agree with are not on the list? Most likely, everything is in order with you: the lump in the throat is random and caused by excitement or muscle spasm. , take a couple of deep breaths - this will help relax the blood vessels and muscles and quickly alleviate the condition.
If you have checked at least one of the statements, do not hesitate to visit a doctor. Maybe you're all right. However, there is a risk that a lump in the throat is a symptom of a dangerous disease, which is important to diagnose and start treating as soon as possible.
The therapist will listen to you, examine your throat and, if necessary, either prescribe treatment or give you a referral to a specialized specialist - a gastroenterologist, ENT specialist, surgeon or oncologist.
A lump in the throat - the causes of this condition are quite diverse and can be functional and psychological in nature. Unpleasant sensations in the throat are the most common health complaint with which patients turn to an otolaryngologist.
As practice shows, a lump in the throat when swallowing can appear due to a stuck piece of food, and due to serious health problems, up to the development of malignant tumors. In order to effectively deal with the sensations of a lump in the throat, it is necessary to find out the causes and effects.
Description of the problem
If discomfort in the throat is constantly tormented, then the person basically describes his feelings as, the presence of an interfering object in it.
It seems to the patient that there is either something stuck there, or something stuck, and he constantly wants to clear his throat. Of course, such a condition cannot be ignored, as it can signal the presence of serious health problems in the human body. The feeling of a lump in the throat can be either the only symptom or manifest itself in combination with other complaints.
How to get rid of a lump in the throat, you can find out only by conducting a comprehensive diagnosis. It will help to find out the main causes, and the treatment in this case will be much more effective.
Reasons for the development of pathology
The feeling of a lump in the throat can appear for a number of completely different reasons, since the neck is an area in which there are a large number of anatomical structures. Therefore, very often patients have to visit more than one medical specialist before they are given a final diagnosis.
The reasons that something begins to interfere in the throat can be various pathological conditions.
Colds
Cold infectious diseases, which are accompanied by edema, palate and tonsils:
- tracheitis.
Patients develop discomfort in the throat, manifested in the form of a feeling of a stuck foreign object. Unpleasant sensations can occur on one or both sides. It can be both constant pain, and only discomfort when swallowing.
Chronic inflammation of the ligaments or larynx (pharyngitis, laryngitis)
In this case, the patient's complaints are not easily reduced to the fact that in the throat, as if a lump, but before the appearance of pain during attempts to speak. Such discomfort lasts around the clock, until the complete restoration of the vocal cords.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical spine (osteochondrosis)
In this case, the neck muscles are constantly in tension trying to compensate for pathological changes in the cervical vertebrae, which leads to muscle spasms. Symptoms of cervical pathology are headaches, dizziness and a feeling that something starts to interfere in the throat.
Stressful situations, worries and experiences
In very impressionable people, any strong emotions can cause some discomfort in the larynx, which is caused by constant overstrain, and as a result, spasms of muscles and blood vessels.
Oncology
Benign or malignant neoplasms in the throat, as a result of which the lumen of the larynx decreases, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Inflammatory processes in the thyroid gland
Feelings that something is in the throat arise due to a growing goiter, which to some extent presses on the muscles of the larynx.
And a few more important pathologies:
- Pathology of the esophagus. Pressure in the throat is also accompanied by symptoms such as belching.
- Abscess of the epiglottis or tonsils.
- Entry into the larynx of a foreign object.
- Allergic reactions, in particular, Quincke's edema. With untimely medical care, a complication can lead to suffocation.
Provoking factors
Certain factors can provoke discomfort in the throat:
Often, patients cannot get rid of discomfort in the larynx on their own, therefore, with such complaints, it is imperative to seek help from a doctor who will find out what factors provoked the appearance of a lump in the throat, the causes of this pathology and ways to solve the problem.
The main symptoms of pathology
A certain complex can be attributed to the main symptomatology characterizing the pathology.
High temperature, accompanied by intoxication of the body - such symptoms appear when a lump is felt in diseases such as:
- tonsillitis;
It is painful for the patient to swallow, and he constantly wants to cough.
As well as cough, which is a sign of pathological phenomena occurring in the upper respiratory tract. If there is blood in the sputum, then this is a reason to suspect the presence of tumors in the throat.
Pain in the region of the cervical spine, which is accompanied by the presence of a coma in the throat and periodic dizziness.
Eructation immediately after eating and feeling of heaviness in the stomach.
Symptoms of increased metabolism (low-grade fever, weight loss, sleep disturbances, increased excitability) with the simultaneous appearance of a lump in the larynx and an increase in the size of the neck are evidence of pathological changes in the thyroid gland.
A powerful stressful shock shortly before the appearance of such sensations as if a lump in the throat.
Diagnostic measures
To find out and confirm the true causes of discomfort in the larynx, it is necessary to carry out special diagnostic methods and methods:
- A general blood test to detect inflammation in the body.
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland - in order to study its structure, size, and to detect neoplasms.
- X-ray of the cervical spine, in order to identify or exclude the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
- MRI and CT of the neck - allow you to detect even minor structural changes in the throat and other tissues of the neck.
- Laryngoscopy is a method of examining the throat and larynx using a special professional instrument.
- Gastroscopy - examination of the stomach and esophagus.
- Visual inspection and palpation of the cervical lymph nodes.
Also, fluoroscopy (with a contrast agent) of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out - it helps to examine the structure of the stomach and esophagus and diagnose problems with peristalsis.
If, after carrying out a full range of diagnostic procedures, no deviations are revealed, then in this case we can talk about the psychogenic nature of the appearance of a lump in the larynx.
Therapeutic measures
After visiting a doctor, conducting an examination and making a diagnosis, a treatment plan will be developed and recommended to the patient. It is strictly forbidden in such cases to engage in self-diagnosis and self-treatment, as this can not only aggravate the situation, but also significantly worsen the state of health.
The treatment plan and its duration will depend on the diagnosis. Some diseases can be cured in a short period, without the use of expensive drugs, while others require a long medication and rehabilitation period.
With hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, patients are recommended to take iodine-containing drugs. If the functions of the thyroid gland are reduced, then this condition requires more complex treatment, in the form of long-term or lifelong use of hormonal drugs.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, patients are advised to perform special exercises that will help strengthen the neck and improve the functional state of the intervertebral discs. They also use manual, vacuum and reflex laser therapy. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle - increase physical activity and follow a proper and balanced diet.
In the presence of a malignant formation in the throat, it is used:
- chemotherapy treatment;
- radiation therapy;
- surgical intervention.
In some cases, one of the above measures may be sufficient, and sometimes a complex of therapeutic measures may be required.
Gastroenterological diseases are treated by taking special medications and following a special diet. If the patient is diagnosed with a hernia of the esophagus, then surgery is indicated.
conclusions
Treatment of ENT diseases depends on the nature of their appearance. Treatment is prescribed after receiving the results of the examination, as they require a different medical approach. In addition to antibacterial and other drugs, patients are prescribed a variety of (soda and iodine solutions, herbal tinctures,) and compresses.
